Amusement device



Nov. 12, 1935. H F, MAYNES 2,021,074

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1935 2 SheetS-Slflee:I 2

. l Si INVENTOR 59 22 lvla Maynas,

NEYS

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Hyla F. Maynes, North Tonawanda, N. Y., as-

signor of one-half to Emma C. Maynes, North Tonawanda, N. Y.

Application February 11, 1935, Serial No. 6,122

11 Claims. (C1. .27254)1 for simple and rapid assemb-ly and disassembly of parts and capable of being transported with minimum inconvenience.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved amusement device adapted to be employed as a pool or tank in which small motor boats can be safely operated by children without injury to the Water containing portions of the structure.

Another object of theinvention is to provide an amusement device in which an improved combination of elements is provided for containing a body of Water in a knock-down structure.

Another object of the invention isV to provide a buffer operable to provide safetyV for boats in the body of water and to prevent the boats fromi striking or injuring the Water containing` portions of the structure.

A knock-down structure designed according to this invention is adapted to be transported from place to place and can be assembled in a playground, park, iairgrounds, or wherever suitable space and conditions prevail. It is particularly adapted as an amusement device forv children. In certain localities where lakes or: other bodies of water are available, small motor' boats have been provided with low speed engines' and can be navigated. by children through endless coursesv from whichr the boats cannot go; astray. HOW- ever, in many localities, access to suitable bodies of water' is.` inconvenient or impractical', and hence, many children are denied: the amusement afforded by this kineV of sport.

On the other hand, the amusement device according to this invention can be erected in any place so long as sufficient water is available to ll the tank, and hence, the children benefit` by an attractive amusement that they would not otherwise beable to enjoy. n

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan, on a larger scale, y

of one section of the superstructure of the device; Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially along the line III-III oi Fig. 1 and including illustration` 55 ofY one type of buffer; and

Fig. l is a section similar to Fig. 3 and including illustration of another form of buffer.

`In practicing the invention there is provided a knock-down superstructure l0 which comprises inner and outer frame members l2 and I3 hav- 5A ing their ends connected to inner and outer posts l5 and I6, respectively. Radial frame braces IT, and also diagonal" frame braces t8 are connected at their opposite ends to the inner and outer posts.f

This superstructure is substantially annular in 10- form, althoughthe inner and outer frame members constitute sides of coaxial polygons.

The braces I1 and I 8 are connected to the inner and outer members l2 and I3, as well as to the innerl and outerv posts I5 and I6` by means of 15 knock-down jointsIS which are adapted to be disassembled or assembled with respect to the frameA members in substantially the same manner as the structurey disclosed in my 'prio-r Patent No. 1,674,734 dated June 26, 1928. Suitable bases 20 20 of sufficient areal to insure proper anchoring of the superstructure upon a support 23 which is in the form of ordinary ground or a iioor. of a building, are provided rigidly upon the lower ends of the posts I 5 and I6. 25

One side of the superstructure I'DL is provided witha platform 25 which servesas aloading and; unloading station and is accessibleby means of two.` stairs or seriesL of steps 26, one of which canibe used for entrance to, and the other for exit 30' from, the platform. Suitable railingsr 27 are pro,- videdr along thev outer and end portions of theV platform, and transverse or radial railings 28 define the platform approaches to the steps upon` exit from the platform. 35

A series ot upright plates 30, which can be of metal brother suitable material, are formed with horizontal base flangesr32 which are adapted to rest. upon the'. support 23,y for the superstructure and project inwardly only a short distance. 40

'I'hese plates are; disposed against the inner frame members l5 between the several inner posts l5, and terminate slightly sho-rt of the latter in lateral, directions. Supplemental plates 3:3 slightly channelled inform have opposite upright flanges 15 35 which overlap the opposite vertical marginal portions of the plates 3c. These supplemental plates need not necessarily be provided withk inwardly turned lower supporting flanges, corresponding to the anges 32, but they can be so provided if desired.

All ofrthese plates` 3Q and 33 constitute supporting walls for a tank or container 38 of iiexn ible, Water proof material, such as canvas, which is. provided. with a bottom wall 39 lying flat upon 55 Varound the adjacent posts I5 and tied in order to maintain the proper position of the tank in the frame structure.

An Vannular floating buffer 5U which has a diameter materially less than the `diameter of the tank 38 is composed of wood, or other matenrial which will float7 and is shown to be in 1aminated form wherein a plurality of flat pieces 52 faced with aninner piece 53 are superposed and arerclamped together by means of bolts 55 extending horizontally therethrough.

As best shown in Fig. l, the buffer is composed of a plurality of segments which are spliced, as indicated at 51, in order that the segments can be disassembled and loaded upon vehicles for transport when the entire device is disassembled.V

A series of rows of loops or hooks 58 are secured at intervals Vupon the upper portion of the buffer 5B and a series of buffer supporting chains 59, or other flexible members, are secured to a Y plurality of the loops 58 by means of releasableY clasp fasteners 6i] provided upon end portions of the chains. The other end portions of the chains are' provided with springs 62, having fasteners 63 that are adapted to be secured in rings 65 provided upon the upper portions of the posts I5. The cords 63 can also be secured to theserings. Y

In the structure shown in Fig. 3, the water level GIS in the tank is` such that the oating buffer 5E) presents the intermediate loops 5B for connection to the clasp fasteners 60 for properly centering the buffer in the tank. If the water level ischanged the fasteners can be secured in either the inner or the outer loops 58, depending upon whether the water level is higher or lower than thatV shown. The springs 62 of the chains 55!l provide for cushioning action in addition to the buffer action of the inner surface of the buffer lwhen a motor boat floating upon the bodyof Water strikes it. Since the buifer is always floating in spaced relation to the upper edge portion of the canvas, the latter is protected from contact with the boat inthe tank and hence can- `not be damaged. Y

In the form of buffer 10 vsho-wn in Fig. 4, the

' posts I5, or as many of them as are necessary,

' slotsV 76 formed in the upper ends of the posts downward adjustment rof the arms.

I5 receive the outer ends of the resilient armsV 'I2 in adjustable relation. Y

Conventional bolts 'Il extending through the upper slotted ends of the posts I5 and through the inner ends of the arms 'I2 are interchangeably engageable in openings 'I8 formed transversely of the slots;y i6 and provide upward and Thus the buiIer annulus 'I5 is resiliently Vand adjustably held in proper position with respect to the water level and always protects the Water containing tank from contact with any of the boats or other objects on the surface of the body of water.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a very sturdy and safe amusement device is provided which can be assembled in any location having convenient area Whether nClOOITS or outdoors, and the water containing portion of Y the device is amply protected from the boats or other objects which noat upon the surface of the body of water confined by the structure. The use of the structure of course is not limited to 5 use by children, or to use of motor boats therein.

Although only two forms o-f structure haveV been shown with respect to the invention, it will Y be apparent to those skilled in the Yart that the invention is not Vso limited but that various l0 changes may be made therein without departing portions lying against the Walls whereby water in 25.

the container presses the wall section and frame in firmly assembled relation, and means for conv necting the upper portion of the container lto IIlie` frame enclosure.

2. In a knock-down amusement device having 3Q j a frame enclosure and provided with a loading and unloading platform, a series of laterally spaced wall sections 'resting against the inner surrounding frame enclosure, a second series of wall sections of channel form having lateral 35 flanges overlapping the marginal portions of the first series of wall sections to provide a substantially continuous wall, a flexible-container dls posed in the frame enclosure and having laterali..

walls resting against said sections and normally 4c.

bearing thereagainst when the container is filled with Water, and means for securing the upper portion of the container to the frame enclosure.

3. In a knock-down amusement device for receiving small boats operable therein, a frame en- 4.5 p

closure provided with a loading and unloading platform, a flexible tank-like 'container disposed in the frame enclosure for receiving a body `of Water, meansfor supporting the walls of. thecontainer against the frame closure, means for secur- 50.

ing the'upper portion of the container alongthe frame'enclosure, a buier. spaced from the upper portionof the container and frame to protect the latter Vfrom contact with objects oating in theV container, and means for supporting the buifer on 55 Y tending substantially` about the inner periphery 65 of the frame enclosure in spaced relation to the container carried therein and protecting the upper portions of the container from contact with objects floating upon the body of water, and means for maintaining the buffer at the Water level in the container. I

5. In a knock-down amusement device having Y a loading and unloading platform, a flexible tank--V like container disposed in the frame enclosure for receiving a body of water at variable levels, means .75'

for supporting the walls of the container against the surrounding frame enclosure, a buler extending substantially around the inner portion of the frame enclosure in spaced relation to the container carried therein and protecting the upper portion of the container Wall from contact with objects in the container, and means for gauging the buffer to the Water level in the container regardless of the variation of water level Within predetermined limits.

6. In a knock-down amusement device having a frame enclosure provided with a loading and unloading platform, a tank-like container disposed in the frame enclosure for receiving a body of water at variable levels, means for supporting the Walls of the container against the surrounding frame enclosure, a floating buier extending substantially around the inner portion of the frame enclosure in spaced relation to the container carried therein and protecting the upper portion of the container Walls from contact with objects oating upon the body of Water, means connecting the bufer to the frame enclosure and maintaining the buier spaced therefrom While providing for upward and downward shifting Within limits of predetermined Water levels.

7. In a knock-down amusement device having a frame enclosure provided with a loading and unloading platform, a tank-like container disposed in the frame enclosure for receiving a body of Water, means for supporting the Walls of the container against the surrounding frame enclosure, a substantially annular sectional buier extending about the inner portion of the frame enclosure in spaced relation to the container carried therein, resilient means suspending the buffer upon the body of water from the frame enclosure and being movable with the water level as the latter changes to maintain the buier in spaced relation to the frame enclosure.

8. In a knock-down amusement device having a frame enclosure, a series of removable Wall sections lying against the inner portion of the frame enclosure, a flexible container having Walls supported against the Wall sections for receiving a body of Water, a series of arms extending from the frame enclosure into the container and having their outer ends disposed in spaced relation to the walls of the container, and buier means connected to the arms and protecting the container walls from contact with objects floating upon the body of Water.

9. In a knock-down amusement device having a frame enclosure, a ilexible tank like container dis- 5 posed in the frame enclosure for receiving a body of Water, means for supporting the Walls of, the container adjacent the surrounding frame enclosure, a series of resilient arms extending from the frame enclosure and having their outer ends disposed in spaced relation to the upper Walls of the container, means for vertically adjusting the arms upon the frame enclosure, and a buffer se-` cured to the outer ends of the arms at the Water level and extending about the frame enclosure in spaced relation thereto to protect the container from contact with iloating objects in the body of water.

10. In a knock-down amusement device having a frame enclosure and provided With a loading and unloading platform, a plurality of removable plate Wall sections loosely installed with respect to the frame enclosure and resting against the inner surrounding frame enclosure, and a exible container disposed in the frame enclosure inside the series of Wall sections and adapted to receive a body of liquid whereby the Weight of the liquid maintains the wall sections against the frame enclosure.

11. In a knock-down amusement device having a frame enclosure and provided with a loading and unloading platform, a plurality of upright members included in the frame enclosure and providing inwardly oiset frame portions, a series of Wall sections encompassing the inner periphery of the enclosure and having their adjacent marginal portions arranged in overlapping relation, certain of the Wall sections having channeled portions contiguous with the upright members to insure close tting of the Wall sections against the frame enclosure, a flexible Water container disposed in the frame enclosure and having its lateral upright Walls resting against said Wall sections, whereby water in the container presses the wall sections and frame in rmly assembled relation, and means for connecting the upper portion of the container to the frame enclosure.

HYLA F. MAYN'ES. 

